My Dad

My last post was from Michelle and my anniversary celebration.  The day after we returned I received a call from my mom.  My dad was not doing well and needed to go to the hospital.  Michelle and I went to their house and we all took dad to the emergency room.  We had known for some time that he had Pulmonary Fibrosis for which there is no cure.  He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit later that day.  This would turn out to be his final journey.

While in the Intensive Care Unit he received outstanding care from the staff at Covenant HealthCare.  Their compassionate care can not be equaled anywhere.  Dad's personality and belief in his creator also helped the staff and us through this difficult time.  During this time Dad was more concerned about us than himself.  He knew that soon he would meet Jesus face to face.  That was his comfort.  I made a promise to him that I would take care of mom and my family, just as he had cared for us all these years.  The following weekend his condition started to decline and on Monday, March 31, 2014 we made the difficult decision to move him to the Cartwright Residence (Hospice).  He was moved to the Cartwright Residence the following morning.  Michelle and I went in together, I filled out paper work and she sat with dad.  The move from the hospital to hospice was difficult for him as it is with anyone that has to make this move.  The staff there were also incredible and very attentive to his needs.  By mid afternoon he had settled in and his mind was calm.  At one point during our visit he did recognize mom and me.  I took mom home that evening and then Michelle and I returned for a while.  I knew he was in good hands and decided it was time for us to get some sleep so we went home. 

At 2:30am on April 2, 2014 I received a call from the Cartwright Residence.  Dad had stopped breathing and passed away.  His journey was complete and he was now with his Lord and Savior. There would be no more pain, only joy!

Today we laid his earthly body to rest and said goodbye.  I think Brendan took it the hardest of all of us.  Him and Dad had a special connection.  He loved our boys dearly and they loved him.  He only spent 10 days in the hospital and the happiest times there were when his grandsons came to visit him! They will forever remember him.

The last two days have been very long filled with joy and sadness.  Many friends and family came to the funeral home on Sunday.  All had stories and kind things to say.  I seen people that I had not seen in years, some as long as 30 years.  This brought back a lot of memories and reminded me of how far I have come and what role my Dad played in my life.  I would not be who I am, what I am or where I am if it was not for him and God. 

There was one gentleman that stood out to me and best tells of Dad's legacy.  He arrived just before we broke for dinner.  None of us knew him.  We asked him how he knew dad and he told us his name and that he lived in Auburn and worked with Dad at Dow.  He said that his first day that he worked at Dow he ran into Dad and Dad greeted him like he knew him all his life.  He said, "Ivan really made me feel welcome, that was the kind of man he was".  When Michelle's dad heard this he said that is how I felt the first time I met him.

He was a kind, gentle and honest man.  He was the man who if he was given a penny change to much at the store he would give it back.  I remember Mom calling him Honest Sam!  A lot of people tell me that I remind them of him.  I can't think of a greater honor.

I will end this by placing his obituary below and saying, "Thank you for being my Dad!"  We love you!

Cunningham-Taylor F.H.'s Inc. Ivan W. Bauer (July 29, 1925 - April 2, 2014) Ivan William Bauer was called home by his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at the age of 88 at Cartwright Residence in Saginaw.  He was born July 29, 1925 in Auburn to the late John and Beulah (West) Bauer and resided in this area all his life.  He was a life-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church (Monitor).  Ivan married Florence Clara Kube on June 26, 1948.  He retired from Dow Chemical Company in 1980 and drove for AVIS for over 20 years following.  He served his country with the U.S. Army in Italy during World War II and was a member of VFW Post 6950. Ivan was an avid deer hunter and Detroit Tiger’s fan.  Surviving him is his wife of 65 years, Florence; son Dennis (Michelle) Bauer; loving grandsons, Jay Jay and Brendan; brother, Edward Bauer; sisters, Beulah-Boots Bauer, Dorothy Sinicki, Lois Martin; sister-in-law Irene Bauer; godsons Randy Bauer, Rev. Roger Bauer, and Brad Martin; many cousins, nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by brother, Herbert Bauer; sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen (Bill) Lederer, Eleanore (Albert) Wackerly, Edna (Norman) Wegener, Margarite (John) Behmlander, Betty Bauer, Leonard Sinicki, and Frank Martin; sister in law, Mary Lou Bauer; special family friend Victor-Vic Luczak; and godson Clyde Behmlander.    Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday April 7, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church (Salzburg & 8 Mile Rds.) Monitor Twp., Rev. David F. Sherry will officiate with ,military rite of committal accorded by the Bay Area Veterans Council to follow in Home Cemetery, Monitor Twp. Ivan’s family will receive friends at the Auburn Chapel of the Cunningham-Taylor Funeral Homes, Inc. on Sunday from 2:00-5:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. On Monday morning Ivan will lie in state at the CHURCH from 1:00 p.m. until time of service. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Trinity Lutheran Church (Monitor) or the donor’s favorite charity.